Let Me Tell You About My Best Friend

Written by Twist.It.Tea

Ok, two best friends because I have this lip in two shades: Grrrl and O.G. Red.  Finally, I feel like I may have found my soulmates.  Not only are these shades my fave but they’re everything I want and need in a matte lip.  It doesn’t require a base because it has shea butter, coconut oils and grapefruit peel oils in it to soften your lips and provide extra moisture (MAJOR KEY). 

Courtesy of Milk Makeup (Sephora)

Milk uses a special technology called Milk Melt that matches your body temp for an “instant glide and a second skin feel”.  This formula feels so good on your lips from application through the whole night.  When I use matte lips I almost feel like they’re a little gritty and ‘skip’ on the application, but because of all of those amazing oils and the shea butter, it was a smooth transition from stick to lip.  It’s important to me that my matte formula doesn’t dry out my lips, especially during the winter months.

O.G. Red by Milk Makeup Demi Matte Lipstick

This formula is very pigmented and is definitely an all-nighter.  Even when it did start to fade, my lips were still held a subtle tint.  I love that about this line, it fades with grace so I still feel confident throughout the night that I don’t have to constantly be reapplying. 

Grrrl by Milk Makeup Demi  Matte Lipstick. 

I am always carrying the shade, Grrrl around with me because I think it goes with everything.  It gives me a little bit of a 90’s vibe but I’m into it. It’s described as a ‘Deep Plum’ but to be honest I find it more in the mauve family with a hint of grey.  I love it because I’m a huge fan of this shade I’ve been wearing it all winter and fall.  And like the OG Red it stays on all night and the subtle tint is reliable until I can get into a mirror to reapply. 

Grrrl by Milk Makeup Demi  Matte Lipstick

O.G. Red is super pigmented and is now my go-to for when I want a fire engine red.  It’s a litttttle messy, but what best friend isn’t? I’m always so careful when I apply this shade because it somehow gets on my chin and teeth (unfortunately) but I don’t really care to be honest because the shade is that dope.  I wear some lipliner with this shade and it won’t feather around my lips, and even though it’s a little finicky to apply I really love this formula and shade overall. 

Beach Waves in March ! IGK Beach Club Texture Spray

Written by Deanna P 

I recently tried IGK Beach Club Texture Spray.  It comes in a 1.7 oz trial size and 5 oz for $29.00.  I tried the 5 oz. size. IGK launched in 2016 by 4 hair stylists from NY, LA, & Miami.  The stylists include Chase Kusero from LA.  His clients include Jared Leto, Paris Hilton, Robbie Williams, and Mena Suvari.  Franck Izquierdo, from Miami, whose claim to fame is styling models on fashion runways  from Milan to Paris and has worked for many designers including Givenchy.   Leo Izquierdo, also from Miami, who also works the catwalk and the red carpet.  Mercedes Benz Fashion week has partnered with him and he has worked with Oscar De La Renta and Chloe’.

The NYC stylist, Aaron Grenia, from NY who has a deep passion for styling and has a list of his own fashionable clients and also works the runway with famous designers.  The group together resembles a men’s rock band and give off a cool laid back vibe.  Their single vision is to create products designed to fit the lives and needs of the client. For those of you who do not know, I am not a huge fan of most hair sprays.  That is until I tried IGK Beach Club Texture Spray.  Texture Sprays are different from hair sprays as they add texture to the hair without the stiffness, & stillness a lot of hairsprays do. This texture spray can be used on Straight, Wavy, Curly, Coiled or Tightly Coiled hair.  It has no added Parabens, Sulfates or.Phthalates It can also be used on color or keratin treated hair.  Lastly, it is salt free. It claims to add texture and volume to the hair and give you that beach wind blown look. 

I tried IGK spray not expecting much and I fell in love.   I though the packaging was brilliant.  The beach picture that covers the canister speaks for itself and really displays what the product   is supposed to do.   The fragrance is a mix of vibrant notes of guava, coconut water, pink lotus, midnight violet, and vanilla.  The smell is intoxicating.   The best news is the product works briliantly.  It gave my hair a great beachy texture while adding a great smell and the ability to still run my fingers through it. I would definitely recommend and think it is priced fairly.   The good news is you can buy the mini size for $14.00 so you can try it before you invest in it.  

You can purchase it at sephora.com.

Should you do what the Dr. orders & use what he suggests for your skin?

Written by Deanna. P

Dr. Perricone MD High Potency Face Firming Activator

59 mL  2 Fl Oz retails for $125.00

I was so excited to try another product by Dr. Perricone MD.  I had tried and was still using Vitamin C Ester Brightening Serum.   I loved the way it worked on my skin and made it look.  The addition of the firm activator to my skin routine could only help to make my skin look even better.  The product was first only available through a dermatologist’s office.  The ingredients, which include alpha lipoic acid & DMAE are proprietary to Dr. Perricone, which to me made it more of an exclusive product.  Dr. Nicholas V. Perricone is a world-renowned healthy-aging expert. He's also an award-winning inventor, a certified nutrition specialist, an educator, and a philanthropist, in addition to being a board-certified dermatologist.

As I had written before, On his website it says, “Dr. Nicholas Perricone believes we can control the way we age (wrinkles and all) by simply following an anti-inflammatory diet backed with nutritional supplements and anti-aging topical skincare. Think of it as a prescription for beauty that comes from the inside out—as well as the outside in.”  This is sheer brilliance & as well as being a fan of his skincare, I am a fan of his philosophy.  

I used the product for a week and noticed the difference.  My skin did appear to have less lines and did look younger to me.  With continued use, I feel the results will be even more profound.  The product is a serum so it was light and easy to apply and did have a pleasant  natural healthy scent. I also liked the fact that the consumer results were not perfect. They were very good , but only showed that around 80+% of people saw improvements.  The product is pricey, but it is definitely something to try as it is a potent product that has some great proven results. 

You can buy it at ulta.com

4 out of 5 stars

Thoughts on Womanhood on International Women's Day 2018

@bufferingbetty

Happy International Women’s Day!

Meetpepperb.com is dedicated to showcasing women's creativity and entrepreneurship. Each interview on meetpepperb.com has been of women. See them here ⇀

Growing up woman is not always princesses + glitter. It is constantly being told you aren’t enough. We are taught to accept blame for things that are out of our control so that they don’t ever have to understand they’re actions. We’ve been taught to look at other women as competition, catty, and bitchy. But that was because they knew of our power. They feared what we were capable of if we stood together.

Keep fighting. Keep growing. 

I used to hate when people would compare women to flowers and gardens because I saw them as fragile, delicate, and only appropriated for their beauty. I have never seen myself as either and it took me long time to see myself as beautiful. I thought flowers were just beautiful. But it takes a will to survive for a flower to blossom. Even when you rip a petal, the flower does not die. Just like women. We have the courage to survive. And, yes, we are all beautiful. But you’d never know what we went through to keep our heads high.

 Document your experiences. Even if you never tell anyone or if you tell everyone. Our stories are worth writing, sharing, and hearing. If it’s as simple as your Instagram account. Don’t ever let someone shade your selfie game. They’re just mad that they haven’t figured out their own angles yet.

Learn your history. Learn about the women who fought and died for the lives we can have. Remember that they weren’t given anything. They grabbed it. They took it.

Know that it is now our turn to stand for our future. 

 I think women cherish their childhoods because it is so short. When our bodies begin to change, we are given a different standard of character than men. From then on, we are taught how to move in their world. It’s confusing to still be a child when your body can make one. “Remember yourself as a little girl, she’s counting on you to protect her.” It’s a quote that I always find myself coming back to. It helps me move forward when I feel stuck. 

Build to your sisters

4 Beauty Sprays Dry Skin Sufferers Need

@bufferingbetty

Moisturize me!

There are two outrageously terrible symptoms of untreated dry skin. The first is how your skin feels. Your skin can feel so tight that you fear any facial expression you make could force your skin to crack wide open. If it ever reaches the itchy stage, your mind can focus on nothing else until you get that heavy duty moisturizer on your skin. The second symptom is how your skin can look. It's worse because it adds insult to injury. Not only are you physically uncomfortable but now you're self-conscious of all the little flaky patches on your face.

Sometimes, your skin can look as if the outer most layer is
about to shed right off your face like a snake's skin.

For us makeup wearers, untreated dry skin is a nightmare. Your makeup can't look good if your skin ain't right. 

Here are four sprays that make dry skin look and feel JUICY!

For Skin Care:

The time between when you cleanse your skin and apply a moisturizer is very fragile for dry skin survivors. If your skin is still too wet, the moisturizer will slip off your face but you won't even know it. That is until 10 minutes later when you sneeze and you could swear the skin on your forehead must've broken off. I've literally touched my forehead to see if I was bleeding because it hurt so badly. If you wait even a little bit too long to apply moisturizer, well you already know. Itchy. Cracky. Terribleness. 

Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist 

The Luminous Dewy Skin Mist by Tatcha was an instant hit for me. When the serum spray sunk into my skin, I was amazed by how supple my skin felt. I've bought it a few times and I'll buy it again. Tatcha claims you can use this on top of make up but I don't like to use it that way. Dewy becomes greasy really fast. Take the less is more approach with this spray. 

Related:
Tatcha: The Luxury Skin Care Line Social Media Gurus Go Crazy For: Is It Worth The Hype?

My skin was juicy like a peach!

The mist is fine as hell and so am I. 

Makeup Prep:

If your skin is crusty + dusty, your makeup is dusty + crusty. It's all about that skin prep. The best primer I have used is the Too Faced Hangover Rx Replenishing Face Primer. OMG is it good. When Too Faced came out with the spray version of the creamy primer, I could not wait to get my chubby little hands on it. 

Too Faced Hangover 3-in-1 Replenishing Primer & Setting Spray

I don't know if my bottle was just a dud but the nozzel is pura trash. TBH, I didn't even realize it leaked until I filmed this gif. The mist is FAR from fine. It spits in your face. So spray it in the air and let it fall on your face. However, truth be told, the spray works as well as the original primer. What makes this formula so bomb is the ability it has to keep your skin feeling like it has been freshly moisturized without feeling like you have moisturizer on your face. It's a liquid Houdini! 

Related:
From Hang Over To Hydrated: This Primer Is Top Knotch
Too Faced Product Review

So the real tea is that Too Faced calls this a 3-in-1 product.
Nah. It's just a 1-in-1.

I only use this product as a primer because both formulations leave your skin feeling so sticky. You feel hydrated and look radiant but if you touch your face, there is an undeniable tackiness.  Using this as a setting spray is a hell no. Unless you want to feel like you're a piece of double sided tape all day. It also doesn't help with fine lines or pores but I'll take both over crusty looking skin any day. But probably because I don't have a ton of either. 

OOO, also the scent soothes all of your woes. 

Makeup Set:

Foundation, concealer, powder, highlight, blush, bronzer -layer after layer, babes with dry skin know how we can look after all that powder. I'm not putting in all this effort to look like I have been rolling in the sand. My makeup skill level is intermediate, so I also need a setting spray that brings it all together for me with just a touch of glow.

Related:
Find Your Makeup Skill Level

Milani Make It Last Setting Spray

In the past 6 months, I have bought this product 3 times. While you're reading this, I'm probably on my way to buy another one. It's affordable, it smells good, I look great. Milani is a brand you shouldn't sleep on. This setting spray is an amazing product.

What I like about this setting spray, is that it does not
alter the finish of my makeup.

I picked a foundation for a reason. I chose a powder for a reason. I like how it looks. I just need a little extra help not a totally different look. I like a 'natural glow' over a dewy-sweaty look. I had always used the Make Up For Ever Mist + Fix but I hated how sweaty I looked. This Milani spray gives me the same longevity of the MUFE spray without the 'she's just wet' look. What is tragic about this setting spray is the amount of alcohol in it. I haven't noticed any changes in my skin since using this product but I am always cautious with my dry skin. Take care of your skin especially after wearing makeup. 

Move over, big hair! My radiant goddess dreams achieved. 

On The Go:

Dry skin doesn't care who you are, where you're at, or what you are doing. It chooses when you can look juicy and when you will look stale. The best thing you can do is be prepared. You need moisture with you at all times! This is not a drill. All the time. 

Tony Moly Pocket Bunny Mist

The contents of my purse include these essential items. Not pictured: 8 lip products in shades of fuchsia berries and my long yellow wallet stuffed with old receipts and about $6 worth of assorted coins. 

Tony Moly has the most adorably packaged products. The Pocket Bunny Moist Mist is no different. This little guy has saved my skin on numerous occasions. It is the only reason I was able to turn on the heat in my car without fear this past winter. Heating and air cooling systems alike make my skin feel like a piece of toast that has been left out overnight. I drive a lot. I love that I can just pop this spray out of my bag, give myself a little spritz and feel so comfortable.

It doesn't disrupt my makeup.

Everyone that rides with me, in the winter months particularly, has had me spray them in the face with my little bunny. Yes! They did like it!

No ashy hands over here!

Tell me how you tackle your dry skin!! What spray should I try next?

Source

B. Scopes March 2018

Pisces  (February 19 - March 20)

FULL PISCES B. SCOPES ⇀

---

Aries

Pacifica
Rose Flower Hydro Mist

Edible Beauty
No. 3 Exotic Goddess Ageless Serum

Too Faced
Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation

---

Taurus

Makeup Revolution
Pro Fix Oil Control Makeup Fixing Spray

Drybar
Whiskey Fix Styling Paste

Hourglass
Ambient Lighting Blush Collection

---

Gemini

Josie Maran
Argan Enlightenment Illuminizing Veil

H2O Plus
Oasis Moisture Boost Serum

Makeup Geek
Duochrome Eyeshadow in havoc

---

Cancer

Melt Cosmetics
Voyeur

Lit Brooklyn
Joy

Dr. Brandt Skincare
Pores No More® Multi-Performance Stick

---

Leo

Maison Margiela
’REPLICA’ By The Fireplace

Smashbox
Photo Edit Eye Shadow Trio

Tarte
Chrome Paint Shadow Pot

---

Virgo

Tatcha
Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen

Milk Makeup
Blush Oil

Farmacy
Honey Butter Beeswax Lip Balm

---

Libra

Rahua
Enchanted Island Salt Spray

Boscia
Konjac Cleansing Sponge

Guerlain
Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil

---

Scorpio

Artist Couture
Diamond Glow Powder

Buxom
Full-On™ Lip Polish

Pretty Vulgar
Bird's Nest Blurring Beauty Mousse Foundation

---

Sagittarius

Yves Saint Laurent
Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils - Luxurious Mascara

Morgan Taylor
Professional Nail Lacquer

Milk Makeup
Glitter Stick

---

Capricorn

Eyelure
Jasmine Brown Jaybee Lashes

Too Faced
Unicorn Highlighting Stick

Pat McGrath Labs
MTHRSHP Sublime Bronze Ambition Eyeshadow Palette

---

Aquarius

Lavanila
The Healthy Deodorant

Simple
Micellar Gel Wash

BareMinerals
BAREPRO® 16-Hr Full Coverage Concealer

All photos are credited or sourced

Beauty Horoscope: Pisces

 (February 19 - March 20)

Pisces, the starry-eyed sign. Your hopelessly romantic nature inspires you to find love and art in all of your experiences. But it also reveals your tendency to overindulge. Not everything is worthy of your whole heart. This season, create looks using only two eyeshadow colors. The whole palette may entice you to dip your brush into as many shades as you can. Flirt with simplicity without being simple at all. A Pisces has no creative limitations.

Top Beauty Picks For Pisces

The Look: Duo Color Contrast

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Skincare

Miss Violet Lace
Matcha Tea Face Mist

Spongeables 
Charcoal Facial Cleanser in a Sponge

Trilogy
Age Proof Active Enzyme Cleansing Cream

ELF Cosmetics
Sunkissed Booster Drops

Herbivore
Phoenix Cell Regenerating Facial Oil

Biobelle
#IWokeUpLikeThis Sheet Mask

Fragrance

Glossier
Glossier You

Beauty

ELF Cosmetics
Christian Siriano Eyeshadow Palette

Breaking Beauty Shop
Pressed Mineral Mermaid Highlighter

KoKo Lashes
Queen B

Kat Von D
Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick

The Lip Bar
Vixen (now available in Target)

CclStore (Etsy)
Lace Temporary Tattoo Makeup

Nails: Pastel Pairs

Floss Gloss
95% Angel

Source

Zoya
Cole

Source

Julep
Helen

Source

Art For Pisces

Aquarius&Pisces
by zeewipark

Pisces (zodiac series 1)
by cosmikdust

Pisces
by Thea Maia

Info on Pisces from here
All photos are credited to original source.

Last Year's
Pisces B. Scope

Previous Zodiac: Aquarius

Find Out Which Radiance Peel Kayla Rates 5 stars!

Written By Kayla M @oohkayla

To know me is to know that the brand First Aid Beauty holds my heart. I’ve told this story before but the brand was a major part of my skincare routine to help get my skin back to “normal” a few years ago. As someone who has never had a facial or any type of peel done before, any product that promises to do the work of a spa while being in the comfort of my home is intriguing to me. I had tried First Aid Beauty’s Facial Radiance pads in the past and loved them so trying the Facial Radiance Intensive Peel would be the next reasonable step in my relationship with the brand.

The product comes with a small tear dropped shaped sponge and a container with 1.7oz with a price tag of $40. The container is pretty tiny and the sponge seems pointless but don’t judge this product by its packaging. The sponge almost doubles in size when wet and allows you spread the product so evenly it’s mind blowing. The best part is a little goes a very long way especially once you start using the sponge. I used such a small amount and my face was completely covered with the peel in no time.  As per the directions you should leave it on for 1-5 minutes, that time frame is perfect for a quick skin care pick me up. The burning feeling most peels provide was subtle at first and didn’t really start to BURN until after I rinsed the product off. The feeling was tolerable and through some sort of magic I only felt it on the exact 2 spots I really wanted to “peel.” The Facial Radiance Intensive Peel claims to provide softer, smoother and brighter skin after 1 use. This claim seems like a tall order but it REALLY DID WORK AFTER ONE USE! The spots right above my cheekbone area were much smoother and less dry and flaky after 1 use of the product. 

 Bonus: I had no inflammation or irritation afterwards and there is no down time what so ever.

I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a peel that works, doesn’t break the bank and won’t leave you looking all types of crazy for days afterwards. 

SFX in a bottle! Find out How!

Written By Kayla M @oohkayla

The bottle read “Perfect Canvas Skin Finishing Serum”, I thought it was going to be a world wind affair with this new product. I WAS WRONG. According to their site, REN is “a smarter skincare which delivers high performance visible results.” The serum is my first REN product and I was excited to try a primer that would “smooth, lift and reduce pore size, dryness and redness.”

Excitement doesn’t begin to express the feeling I had when I first saw this product. The packaging was simple but for some reason I felt it holding the secret to all the universe. The only secret this product held is how to look like an extra from The Walking Dead. I have dry skin and this product accentuated my every dry spot I had, it then made my makeup cakey and hard to blend and to top it off it made my eye shadow crease and somehow disappear into the unknown. The first time I applied the serum I thought my face felt soft and smooth and was eager to apply my face afterwards. Initially I thought it was the bitter NY winter that caused the creasing and cakey-ness but the more I used it the more I noticed my face was literally falling apart.  I was devastated and decided to go to the review section of Sephora to see if I was crazy or not. On the Sephora website I realized the product had almost 5 stars however the con list was a long one for dry skin people. The reviews were amazing for anyone who had oily or even combination skin, which leads me to believe there is hope for this product. Based on the reviews I read I would recommend this serum to anyone with oily skin but advise someone with dry skin to only use this product during Halloween as part of your SFX makeup kit aka the only time zombie realness is applauded. 

How To Glow Like A Real Life Snapchat Filter

Written by @Twist.It.Tea

I love the face filters and flower headbands just as much as the next girl, but I know I’m not the only one who has wished their makeup was as flawless in real life as it it behind a cute sparkly filter.  Well, luckily I’ve unlocked the secrets, and I'm willing to share with you all today the easy steps to recreating flawless skin.  I found that this step may be the most important. and It starts with, WHEN Glamour Base Sheet Mask. This sheet mask is made from coconut and a bio cellulose fiber, which is very different than a paper sheet mask made from wood or cotton. Bio cellulose fibers have an incredible ability to hold and absorb moisture, making it a perfect component for a face mask made for skin firming, nourishment and hydration. 

Courtesy of WHEN Beauty

When I opened the sheet mask it came sandwiched in between two paper-like masks and at first touch, had a latex feel and I was a little turned off.  I was surprised it smelled like citrus when I first put the mask on, because I read it was made from coconut (I got my hopes up to say that least).  But it was lovely, refreshing and not over powering. I left the mask on for the recommended 30 minutes, and it definitely had a suction feeling upon removal.  I also noticed while I was wearing the mask it felt like the sheet was clinging to my skin, which is all thanks to the super hydration (FACT: bio cellulose masks hold 10 times more moisture than a paper mask thanks to its nano sized fibers) that helped open up my pores to sink in all the good stuff, like ginseng extracts to help with the glow, and adenosine, hydrolyzed collagen and peptides to maximize skin elasticity.  I’m always weary of using a face mask before my makeup application because I’m never sure how the serum is going to sink into my skin or if it’s going to leave a sticky mess behind.  Luckily this sheet mask is made for a makeup prep and it fully absorbed into my skin within 10 minutes.  The serum is supposed to increase collagen production, and make my skin look more firm and smooth, which I can sincerely say is true. 

Photo by Taylor Adami 

Step two is Becca Velvet Blurring Primer, and this stuff is looking like the golden ticket in order to be a real life, walking, talking Snapchat filter.  This primer is going to brighten your complexion, and blur your pores to give you an airbrushed finish.  It’s perfect for my oily/combo skin because it goes from liquid to powder right before my eyes (I'm convinced it's magic).  I apply this after my moisturizer has set in *completely*, or else you’ll get little dried up pilling of lotion when you try to apply the primer.  The formula is a gorgeous light shade of pink that comes out rather aggressively, so be careful.  I don't want to over complicate things, so I will tell you that Sephora said it best, “the formula is infused with pore-blurring powders that float over your skin to diffuse light for a velvety smooth, soft focus finish”, which also helps control oil (huge plus).  I was truly amazed when I applied this over my face, because I was not expecting such a luxe feeling.  It kept my skin hydrated due to the sodium hyaluronate, and brightened up my skin which gave me the confidence to wear this alone on my face because it made such a difference (it also provides slight color correction).  A primer that blurs imperfections and keeps my skin oil free all day is sure to be a keeper, but the fact that it does ALL of that and keeps my makeup in place all day is a home run. 

Photo by Taylor Adami

The grand finale is Too Faced Peach Blur Translucent Powder.  I can’t say enough good things about this product, but I can start with the fact that it has opal-correcting spheres that work to smooth out harsh lines and blur imperfections to give you that near perfect skin filter. The packaging is adorable, and the pressed powder smells AMAZING (like peaches and sweet fig cream to get specific), and you don’t need a lot to get your desired filter. It really looks like there’s no powder on your brush but when you swipe your face, it looks amazing.  I use my Guerlain brushes and although they are a little rough, they pick up the perfect amount of powder.

Photo by Taylor Adami

The formula makes my face buttery smooth, while simultaneously controlling my oil.  This is the last and final step on How To Become A Real Life Snapchat Filter, I even apply over my setting spray because I love the lit from within vibe it gives me.  I feel so pretty with this on! 

The MIlk Makeup Mascara That's Doing Too Much While Doing Nothing At All

Written By @Twist.It.Tea

Milk Makeup Ubame Mascara. By Taylor Adami

I was so intrigued by Milk Makeup’s Ubame Mascara that I couldn’t wait to put it to the test.  As we all know, Milk Makeup is eco-conscious, paraben free and all around very innovative when it comes to ingredients and from first glance, this mascara didn’t fall short in those categories.  But I couldn’t help but wonder, “Is Milk Makeup just one big gimmick?”  (I know a few of you are scoffing at this!!) I will say it has it’s up and downs but part way through writing this article I had made up my mind about which category Ubame Mascara fell in to.  I want to mention first, the notable ingredients, and then with how it applied to my lashes.

Kishu Binchotan Charcoal courtesy of Free People

 One of the first unusual ingredients is right in the name, Ubame.  Ubame is naturally derived from oak trees in the Kishu region of Japan, which is then activated into charcoal. People use ubame for so many different things; mostly to purify water, absorb oils and grilling.  I won’t lie, I had no idea what this stuff was but it seemed magical and at the end of my research I was happy to take the time able to educate myself on all of its amazing uses.

The way Milk Makeup utilizes this organic ingredient is by promising a shade of black that is ‘blacker than black’.  I’ve personally never had problems with mascara not being a true black but I was willing to let them sucker me in over this ubame oak charcoal.  I noticed my lashes were dark, but nothing I’d say stood out to be much of a difference than my normal lashes just a bit more stuck together.   I was kind of disappointed, I was expecting a thicker, fuller lash but instead got a clumpy, haphazard mess.  My eye lashes were separated and weak.  I love when a mascara gives me a full lash starting at the base, and gradually separating.

Not actual sapphire dust, shown is Glitter Dust In Sapphire Blue by Shopo.

Next on the list of “Interesting Ingredient, But What Does It Do?” was the highly proclaimed, sapphire dust.  Well, I couldn’t have rolled my eyes harder at this one. After Googling plenty of different variations of, “what is sapphire dust?”, “what does sapphire dust do?”, none of my questions were answered especially in regard to what Milk Makeup claims to provide, “dimension and depth”.  At this point I’m a little skeptical because I’m getting the feeling Milk Makeup is marketing to a consumer who will buy anything that sounds ‘natural’ or ‘better for you’.  Honestly, I don’t see any need for sapphire dust in a mascara, but Milk seems to think it’s an important enough ingredient. I won’t lie, it does sound pretty cool to say you’re mascara is made out of activated charcoal and sapphire dust.  But, it doesn’t change the fact that this mascara really fell short.  I would have loved if the dust provided a reflective property to make the lashes seem fuller or longer.  Anything to make them seem less unenthused. With  Milk boasting about their Ubame mascara being 75% natural ingredients, I was convinced at this point they’re just throwing shit in there to sound cool. And the reason why I’m saying that is because ,they got me.  I thought these two ingredients were both interesting enough, to have high hopes for the mascara.   I was hoping the notable ingredients were more than a shock factor, but functional ingredients.  Unfortunately for me, this formula caused my eyes to it itch shortly into the day.  It is highlighted to be a buildable mascara and I found myself applying it close to four times before seeing some drama.  I think the excessive coats, mixed with a drier formula caused the mascara to flake under and into my eyes resulting in my eyes becoming extremely itchy.  So not only were my eyes itchy but black flecks were sticking under my eyes, and it looked like I haven’t been getting much sleep.  I didn’t put all of this together until I started reading some reviews claiming the same reaction. 

Milk Makeup Ubame Mascara Wand. By Taylor Adami

Apart from the non memorable formula,  the 3 part  wand was possibly the most unnecessary thing about this whole mascara.  The directions claim  that curling your eyelash prior isn’t needed.  I beg to differ.  In order to achieve any noticeable effect I had to curl my lashes prior or else they would stick straight out. It was annoying having to apply 4-5 coats per eye to only get a fraction of what BlackUp Volumizing Lengthening Mascara gives me in 1-2 strokes.  I don’t think this brush does anything for me at all, it was even difficult to apply in some areas of my eye because of the shape.   

 I will say one positive thing about Milk Makeups Ubame Mascara is their genius concept of the squeeze tube.  I loved feeling like I had more control over how much formula I was putting on the comb, and I wish every company would implement this packaging into their mascara lines. Unfortunately this packaging wasn’t enough to make up for the overall underwhelming results. 

Which Matte Palette Should You Get Based On Your Skill Level

@bufferingbetty

If you've ever gotten discouraged when applying your makeup, there is a possibility you are using a product that just is out of your skill range. Especially when it comes to eyeshadow. Your eyelid is such a small canvas that learning to apply eyeshadow can be pretty tricky! Matte shadows are not the easiest to work with either. If your blending needs some work, it can be very obvious without the shimmers and glitter to soften it. Here is a guide to helping you find the right matte palette for you. 

Remember:
 Makeup is fun.
Practice makes you better.
Makeup never has to be anything more than you want it to be. 

Match your skill level + find your perfect palette!

The Newbie:

Your go-to-look usually consists of mascara and a nude lipstick. You probably just bought your very first concealer and never knew you could look so wide awake. Now, you're ready to embark on the journey to blended creases and smokey lash lines.

Kiss New York Professionals
Hexa Eyeshadow Palette in Matte Nude; $9

This Hexa Matte Nude Palette from Kiss New York Professionals is a great product to practice with. The shadows have a buildable pigmentation. This allows you to learn how to control the shadow while not being overwhelmed with color. When you're new to wearing eye makeup, even the smallest amount of color can feel like you have a 2004-emo-kid smokey eye. Think Gerard Way in Helena. The Hexa palette gets you accustomed to seeing some depth being added to your eyes. These shadows blend easily for a beginner. If you find yourself having trouble, soften the amount of pressure you are applying with. The bristle of your brush shouldn't be fanned out and flat against your skin but gently grazing the skin to softly blend the shadows. Be careful not to over blend -yeah that happens sometimes and you eye shadow look just ends up being brushed away. 

This  palette is available in 4 color choices here ⇀

Easy:

You know what the 'outer v' is but you're still learning the proper eyeshadow placement that will be the most flattering to your eye shape. You also just realized that eye shapes are a thing. You're ready to start trying your hand at new eyeshadow styles, add some color, and figured out what do people mean by a halo eye. 

Morphe
12NB Natural Beauty Eyeshadow Palette; $12-15

This 12 pan eyeshadow palette from Morphe (pronounced more-fee) is an affordable and super user-friendly palette anyone can master. The quality is very similar to the Kiss palette but just tiny bit more pigmented. There is more color deposited on your eyelid when you apply these shadows, however, it doesn't stay that pigmented when you blend them so creating gradients are more simple. The shades in the palette help you learn how to build depth to a look. Practice your cut-crease, the halo eye (personal fave for puffy-hooded eyes), or a classic rounded smokey eye. Incorporate new brush techniques for application. If you find you have trouble getting a seamless blend, try a patting blending motion instead of windshield wiper motions. I find that it creates a more beautiful gradient that won't make all of the colors indecipherable from one another that still doesn't look like color blocking. 

Morphe has about 4 of these 12 pan eye shadow palette here ⇀  

There are some shimmers in this palette, however, they BARELY shimmer. There is a slight sheen. If you're not used to seeing reflects on your eyelids, this a good starting point. Try these on the inner corner or just on the center of your lid. It plays up the shape of your eye just a bit. 

This IS called the natural palette so don't hold the slight sheen against them too much.

Intermediate:

You are comfortable with just about anything on your eyes but you are still trying to identify your style. You often like how your eye makeup looks but you are trying to figure out how to get it to the next level. You know a ton of makeup techniques, but you just need more practice. My favorite time to practice is before I go to bed. I'll take off any eye makeup I have on and try something new or just build on to what is already on my eyelid. 

Urban Decay
Naked Ultimate Basics Eyeshadow Palette, $54

This palette is basic only in name. Stunning packaging and beautiful colors. The Urban Decay Ultimate Basics Palette carries a range of cool and warm toned shadows. For lesser experienced users, the pigmentation of this palette can be daunting. A little bit of product goes a long way. If you made a mistake while creating your smokey eye, the lighter shades in the top row of this palette are great for correcting it. Look at them as a softener. How many times have your looks gotten away from you and you ended up with eyeshadow half a centimeter away from your brow? Yeah, me too. Choose a shade that matches the tone of your look. Using a fluffy blending brush, pat the shadow over the edges of your look. You won't ever have to start over again.  

Urban Decay also carries 2 smaller Naked Basics palettes that have less color in them.  Here ⇀

Experienced:

Honey, you got this. You can find an eyeshadow look on your Instagram feed and mentally break down the steps to recreate it. You're so versed in makeup that you recognize the shade on the lid is actually a blush from that limited edition palette that came out last year. Winged eyeliner can be done while having a conversation and you can cut a crease without using the concealer trick. 

Kat Von D
Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette; $48

The Kat Von D eyeshadow formula is not for the faint of heart. If you have never applied eyeshadow, this is not the palette for you. You don't have to be a pro, but you should at the very least have a few blending techniques and a light hand. These eyeshadows are so richly pigmented that building the color carefully and slowly is not a suggestion; it is a necessity. The benefit of this level of pigmentation is that you won't have to worry about your eye makeup expiring before your night is up.  The shadows create such depth. The black is the darkest you could imagine. The white shade is so bright, it confuses your iPhone camera.  If you find that you are having some trouble blending these shadows, adjust where your hand is holding the brush. The closer your hand is to the bristles, the more pressure you are applying. Slide your hand away from the ferrule (usually the metal part of the brush) and cradle the brush more delicately in your hand. It's a small difference that can really improve your makeup. 

Kat Von D has a shimmer version of this palette!!! Here ⇀

Pro

You're an artist. Bridal, runway, film, lighting, skin type - you know all of the things that have an effect on makeup and you know how to work around them to still get exactly what you want. Eye shape? Irrelevant. You make eye shapes. Not only does your makeup look effortless, you can do the same for any client. 

Mehron
iNtense Pro™ Pressed Pigment Palette; $54

Just for reference, the Mehron palette is a professional palette and the Kat Von D palette is STILL more pigmented. 

This is a very easy palette to work with. The colors are pigmented but not so much that you have to be super careful. The reason it is a pro product is because it goes beyond eye makeup. "iNtense PRO™ Pressed Powder Pigments are also versatile enough to be used in multiple ways on the hair or body for that theatrical and dramatic effect" (Mehron). A great way to use this palette is by gently scrapping some product out of the pan. Use a mixing medium that will spark your creativity. I blended the reddish shade with a lip balm for a beautiful lip shade. I have used these powers on my face for a fun contour - GRL! how these colors blended!!! I once mixed some of the green shadow into a fair - light foundation for a cool Halloween costume. The possibilities only end where you creativity does. 

This palette is available in 3 shades Here ⇀

What is your skill level and what are you challenging yourself to do?

Get The Look: Lady Gaga Grammy's Look!

@bufferingbety

Gaga was giving us a million reasons to go to beauty school.

Source

Sarah Tanno was the artist behind the Lady Gaga's gorgeous makeup. She gave Gaga a black, winged-out smokey eye with a meteorite-like sparkle.

Tanno has also been the hands behind the makeup for
Gaga's Grammy appearances since 2015! 

Gaga's 2015 Grammy Look
Source

Gaga's 2016 Grammy Look
Source

Gaga's 2017 Grammy Look
Source

Sarah Tanno was looking out for her fellow man when she posted a photo of Gaga's Grammy look with a caption that gave her 137k Instagram followers all of the deets on how Tanno created Gaga's captivating look and what she used to do so.

"Gaga’s eyes were inspired by a dark starry night. Romantic and striking to compliment the gorgeous #ArmaniPrivé creation."

Source

"I rimmed her eyes heavily with @marcbeauty #Blaquer
Highliner Gel Crayon and blended all over the lid."

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner in Blacquer 42

"I winged the shape to a sharp point using Magic Marc’er in Blaquer."

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Magic Marc'er Precision Pen Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Blacquer

"I next blended A soft shimmery peach all the way to the
brow bone using Glambition Eyeconic palette."

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Eye-Conic Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette in Glambition

"I next added the sparky back from the Edgitorial palette to
blend the transition together."

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Eye-Conic Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette in Edgitorial

She then applied "[c]oats of [her] favorite #VelvetNoir mascara"

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara

She finished with "sparsely [applying] loose
silver glitter from Lit [Cosmetics]."

Lit Cosmetics
Liquid Metal in Magnetic (Silver)

For Gaga's snatched face Tanno used "the newest #marcjacobsbeauty foundation called #Shameless... This foundation is luminous but self setting, so no need to use a ton of powder. 
 

My dream come true. - Tanno about Marc Jacobs Beauty's new foundation launching in February

Source

"I put a soft veil of pink blush on her cheeks using
Airblush in Kink & Kisses."

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Air Blush Soft Glow Duo in 504 Kink & Kisses

"I tapped a bit of dew drops in high points
of skin for a sheer elegant glow."

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter

"For the lips I used Prim(rose) lipliner and
Le Marc Lipstick in Cream & Sugar"

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Poutliner Longwear Lip Liner Pencil in Prim(rose) 304

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Le Marc Lip Crème in Cream and Sugar (available in Nude Lip Trio Set)

So now you know the steps + the tools. But it's up to you to practice
so you can create this glam look all for yourself! Good Luck!

Which 2018 Grammy's do you want to recreate?

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B. Scopes February 2018

Aquarius  (January 20– February 18)

Full Aquarius B. Scopes ⇀

---

Pisces

Benefit Cosmetics
ka-BROW! Cream-Gel Eyebrow Color With Brush

Duke Cannon Supply Co
Working Man's Face Wash

Soap & Glory
The Mighty Contourer 3-In-1 Contour, Blush & Highlight Kit

---

Aries

Too Faced
Clover A Girl's Best Friend Eye Shadow Palette

Bloomsbury Square
Pearl Gardenia SkinNectar with Rosehip + Rice Bran Oils

Colourpop
Ultra Glossy Lip in Wolfie

---

Taurus

Lush
Plum Snow Bubble Bar

Dior
Miss Dior Le Parfum

Billy Jealousy
Devil's Delight Beard Oil

---

Gemini

Mario Badescu
Cellufirm Moisturizer

J.Cat Beauty
You Glow Girl Baked Highlighter

Clarins
Sun Control Stick for Sun-Sensitive Areas SPF 30

---

Cancer

Pat McGrath Lab
Mothership III Eyeshadow Palette - Subversive

Chaos Makeup
Technicolor Pressed Highlighter

L'Oreal
Infallible Paints Eyeliner

---

Leo

Makeup Monster Cosmetics
Enigma Soft Satin Liquid Lipstick
 

Ardell
Magnetic Lash Accent #001

BH Cosmetics
Glitter Collection

---

Virgo

Lancome
Matte Shaker High Pigment Liquid Lipstick

Sephora Collection
MOSCHINO + SEPHORA Shopping Bag Eyeshadow Palette

NYX
Angel Veil Skin Perfecting Primer

---

Libra

Kjaer Weis
Powder

Butter London
Glazen Lip Glaze

Belif
Moisturizing Eye Bomb

---

Scorpio

Charlotte Tilbury
Hollywood Lips

Lush
Eau Roma Water Toner

Besame Cosmetics
Cake Mascara

---

Sagittarius

Smith + Cult
Nailed Lacquer in Ghost Ghost Edit

Verb
Ghost Prep

Makeup Revolution
Ghost Baking Powder

---

Capricorn

Soap & Glory
Hocus Focus Illuminator

Christian Louboutin
Loubilaque Lip Lacquer

Joico
InstaTint Temporary Color Shimmer Spray

All photos are credited or sourced
Zodiac inspo from here

Beauty Horoscope: Aquarius

 (January 20 - February 18)

Aquarius, you thrive in social situations because you know how to keep people wanting. Half the time, you hang on to each and every word. Other times, you are totally indifferent. This tactful skill maintains that 'cool kid' status you have always had. It is your natural state of being. The Aquarius look for 2018 plays with this trait. Modern Grunge In Black cloaks your eyes in mysterious intensity. When you give your attention, the smudge shadow around your eyes will give the person peering back at them the feeling that you are enchanted by their conversation. Should you choose to be indifferent, your distance will be all the more stunning. Don't get lost in your own eyes. 

Top Beauty Picks For Aquarius

The Look:
Modern Grunge In Black

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Skincare

Dr. Jart
Shade & Shot Rubber Brightening Mask

Saturday Skin
Rise + Shine Gentle Cleanser

Lush
Giant Rose Bombshell

Murad
Nutrient Charged Water Gel

Naturally Beautiful 69 (Etsy)
Prickly Pear Face Oil Serum

Tony Moly
I'm Real Cactus Mask Sheet

Fragrance

Paco Rabanne
1 Million

Beauty

Sephora Collection
Bright Future Skin Tint

Tarte
Tarteist Pro Lashes in Goddess

Hourglass
Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick

Milk Makeup
Luminous Blur Stick Primer

Black Moon
Liquid Lipstick in Mortis

Eylure X Jasmine Brown
Curly Queen Lashes

Nails: Dark Splatter

Source

Out Of The Canon (Etsy)
Paint Splatter False Nails

Source

Source

Source

Source

Art For 

Moonlit Ocean
by SpaceFrogDesigns

Water Bearer
by Argi Univrs

Aquarius
by Catherine Holcombe

Aquarius Info on  from here
All photos are credited to original source.

Last Year's Aquarius B. Horoscope

Previous Zodiac: Capricorn

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Find Out How I Achieve A Subtle Glow For An Out Of This World Gleam

Written by @Twist.It.Tea

I am sadly not solely convinced that Milk Makeup’s Holographic Stick in Mars will give me the highlight I truly want and deserve.  I was planning on turning Mars into my everyday luminizer, especially because there’s enough in the full-size container to highlight an entire army for like 3 years.  If you don't know about Milk Makeup's Holographic Stick Family, Mars is the sister shade to the infamous, Supernova, but in a more “down-to-earth” rose gold/peachy shimmer.  This is a very beautiful and cool-toned luminizer that is universal to all skin shades which is amazing and also why I LOVE Milk Makeup products. 

Credit: Milk Makeup

Anyway, I was very much in love with Supernova over the summer, which you can read about here. I was ready to fall head over heels all over again with Mars, but I was sadly mistaken.  Going into trying the new addition to the family, I knew exactly what to expect from these highlighters – especially due to the lovely and (very) prominent ingredient, Avocado Oil which gives it a super smooth application.  They’re notoriously difficult to apply to your skin straight from the stick – it WILL shift your BB cream or foundation, and end up on the stick which is not fun.  It’s best to apply the highlight to your preferred areas by tapping the formula on with your fingers.  It’s honestly not my favorite way to apply highlighter but since I loved the way Supernova looked on me I was willing to put my differences aside and try this baby out.  Well, Mars is a beautiful shade in concept, but once it’s on my skin it doesn’t really wow me at all, and that is definitely a personal preference. A LOT of people love this shade and formula, but it’s too subtle for my taste! For me, it falls very flat and forces me to continually apply it to my skin until it’s pretty greasy.  So, on the plus side – it is buildable but it doesn’t have the most pleasant ending.  It is very sheer compared to Supernova and that made me sad because I love an intentional glow, but since I do appreciate it as a base I love to sweep some Anastasia Sugar Glow Kit over the top.  At this point, I am definitely wearing an ‘out-of-this-world’ type of highlight, but there are pretty light peach undertones that come through when sunlight hits.  I like to use Gumdrop because it compliments Mars so well with the rose gold flakes. 

When I would wear the formula alone, it would eventually leave very fine lines on my cheekbones which I did not appreciate having to buff out in the middle of the day, and also didn’t give me that “ethereal glow” I was hoping for.  Instead, I think I would really benefit from this if I used it as a body highlighter during the summer.  I can only imagine how sexy and effortless this would gleam on collarbones and with a bronzey tan.  I won’t give up on Mars just yet, because I truly want to love it as much as it’s big sister, Supernova.  So, since summer is still a few months away, I am going to try a cool suggestion I received in the meantime; apply the highlighter under my BB Cream.  I am not truly convinced here, mostly because of the oily feeling it gives me sometimes, but I am definitely going to test it out because I’m willing to make this relationship work!  If anyone has any other suggestions please reach out!

"They're Real & They're Spectacular"

Written by @oohkayla

One of the first “high end” mascaras I remember purchasing was Benefit’s They’re Real mascara. Benefit was actually one of the first brands I ever purchased from in Sephora, in truth they really are the brand that led to my obsession. Fast forward to also 10 years later and I have come to the conclusion that They’re Real mascara may be my makeup soulmate.

Dear They’re Real, I am sorry for the years I spend neglecting you, I was young and foolish and trust me it won’t happen again. Will you forgive me? Yours Forever, Kayla M

Like most people I am a real sucker for numbers and statistics, I can tell through the computer screen you are staring at this saying, “What does that mean?” You know when 3 out of 4 dentists recommend a gum? Or when 9 out of 10 vets agree on a cat food? And you go out and buy it just because almost 100% think it is good, that is being a sucker for numbers and statistics. Benefit’s website has them all over their site and after being reunited with my love, I have to agree with them. I apply 1-2 coats to my top lashes using the wiggle through technique. The wiggle through is when you move your brush from side to side as you are moving it up through your lash, I find it gives me the maximum effect and rids me of any small clumps that may have occur not that clumps happen often.

1 out of 1 Kayla’s recommend this to her entire tribe. The brush this mascara has seems pretty standard but it isn’t! Think Harry Potter wand and then add a little spiked ball at end that helps with those really tiny lashes as well as helping to separate overall. I personally have very small, scattered, “are they even there?” lashes and this works wonders. The mascara lengthens, separates and adds volume. But be warned this won’t provide the look of falsies but it will help the makeup lovers out there that need a good staple mascara, who have a hard time finding something that makes the smallest of lashes step into their power and you take home to meet your parents!

If They’re Real Mascara was a person they would be the best man and maid of honor at your wedding, the aunt who always makes the best mac n’ cheese, the little black dress that hugs you in all the right places.

My Ride or Die Beauty Products of 2017!

By: @acevallee

Hey guys, it's your friendly neighborhood glow queen! Happy 2018! Better late than never, I'm posting my top standout products from last year that is sure to remain in heavy rotation this year. Come to the celebration that is obviously on my Top Shelf as you can see. Some brands are repetitive but I honestly can't apologize for it because it is truly the products that got me through the past year and I refuse to eliminate them because of repetition. There are some dry skin warriors on this list so make sure to take notes if you're a fellow parched gal. Also theres a product that I forgot to take a photo of because it has been lost for 3 days but I MUST mention it. OLEHENRIKSEN BANANA BRIGHT EYE CREAM. LIFE CHANGER!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not even going to talk about it, just go run out and get it... NOW. It's my top recommendation. Thank me later. 

FOREO LUNA PLAY has been a crucial addition to my skincare routine. It helped me deep cleanse in the most gentle way possible. Unlike a Clarisonic this gentle silicone, vibrating tool doesn't need carry and bacterial residue which is a plus for those like me who fear germs. The battery on the brand's tiniest cleansing device does run out but it did reassure me to upgrading to the Luna Mini 2 which can be recharged. 

SUNDAY RILEY JUNO face oil has been my ace this season. I double dose before bed after cleansing and before my moisturizer. I put enough to make me look like a greasy strip of bacon. My parched skin needs all of this goodness to drink up during the hours that I'm asleep. 

FLOSS GLOSS nail polishes are hands down the best. "Disco Dust", a nude-ish rose gold holo compliments my skintone perfectly and I'm sure my manicurist is tired of me using the same polish. The shade "Lipliner" is basically MAC's classic lipliner "Whirl" for your nails... enough said. Universally flattering, The go-to for my pedicure. 

Of course I had to include FENTY BEAUTY on my list. That KILLAWATT HIGHLIGHTER in "TROPHY WIFE" is bold as F*CK and it is the standout product of the brand's entirety. The effect is like shattered purely gold glass and can be used as an eyeshadow as well. The richest glow of all time. GLOSS BOMB is also one of the best glosses on the market and is truly universally flattering on each and every single skin tone. When in Doubt with what lip to wear, pairing with a smokey or neutral lid, Gloss Bomb will come in clutch.  

BUNNY MOON JELLY MASK Move over Oatafix, This is now LUSH's most hydrating face mask that I have ever used. It is such a treat, perfect for boosting hydration in this harsh NYC winter weather. With calming ingredients like rose and chamomile to sooth and honey to generously moisturize dry, sensitive skin, this newbie is a winner! 

In 2017 I turned 30 and started using sunscreen on a daily basis. GLOSSIER INVISIBLE SHIELD doesn't irritate my skin or make me breakout like just about every other sunscreen on the planet, and it's more like a serum and its super light and soaks in seamlessly. Also works well under makeup which is a plus. (Glossier, please make a waterproof version). This was my got to protection after using exfoliants and products like Drunk Elephant's Babyfacial to protect my freshly renewed skin from the sun. 

COLOURPOP was one of my top 3 brands this year. Most of my money went to ordering highlighters and also Face Products. I was addicted to their SUPER SHOCK CHEEK HIGHLIGHTER "Flexitarian" which became my signature glow a while back (here's my past review on this formula)  as well as "Off Tropic:" which is the warmer version of my signature. Their Powder Bronzers and Blushes were also some of my most used products as they go on silkily with no skipping or patchiness. BTW, Not one product in this photo cost more than $8!!

This is the greatest product from Glossier since Haloscope. GLOSSIER CLOUD PAINTS are a great multi-use product for eyes, cheeks and lips. I was using this for a majority of the year mixed with highlighter to get a pretty glow. (which is now called "draping"). They're insanely pigmented so very little goes an extremely long way. The shade "Dusk" is my favorite. 

Drunk Elephant's T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial is worth every ounce of hype it is given. After using it once a week for a month, I've noticed a difference in texture and clarity of my skin, leaving it renewed, radiant and subtle after each use as if I went and got an actual professional facial done. 

HERBIVORE COCO ROSE has become a staple in my bedtime shower routine! It makes my skin baby soft and heavily moisturized with a pretty sheen. The scent is subtle and divine! This is like my 4th jar because I'm truly obsessed. This Dry Skin's Bff. I actually have a review on this here. 

My top 3 brow products that are in heavy rotation are GLOSSIER BOY BROW in clear for everyday grooming. COLOURPOP BROW BOSS pencil in light brown to define. CHARLOTTE TILBURY LEGENDARY BROWS in Supermodel because of its tiniest most precise brush that applies the perfect amount of pigment to tint your brows and make them feathery.

You will always find a GLOSSIER BALM DOTCOM somewhere around my room, bag or coat/jacket. I have every single flavor but the standout this year was the BIRTHDAY BALM DOTCOM. The pretty glittery sheen is an adult version of the Vanilla Frosting  Lip Smackers that I was obsessed with as a kid. Thanks to the brand's collab with MILK BAR and you can actually use this as a fun glossy, glittery highlighter. I always say these are great multi use products. from lips to cheeks to cuticles.

EXFOLIKATE GLOW MOISTURIZER has been my go-to moisturizer all season to give my skin the hydration and radiance it needs, especially since I mostly skip makeup for work. it gives me a healthy glow and mimics a good night's sleep. 

GLOSSIER YOU fragrance has become my signature scent of the season, which is odd because I prefer more masculine scents. This warm, comfortable, crisp, peppery concoction captivated me each and every time I wore it. It sinks into my skin to give me a scent that adapts and belongs solely to me. It doesn't smell the same on me than it does on anyone else. I am the base note! It amplifies my natural scent in the best way possible. it lingers on my clothing as well which I love. 

My palette of the year is COLOURPOP YES PLEASE! As you can see, this beloved palette was my ride or die for a pretty, neutral warm lid with that beautiful pop of yellow that I entered my 30s with. YES, I said yellow! This palette helped me be a little less boring with my eye looks. For $16, you can't go wrong. 

Another COLOURPOP obsession came late this year with their LUSTER DUST LOOSE HIGHLIGHTERS. The effect they give alone or on top of their Super Shock Highlighters is to die for!!!

Too Faced Melted Liquified Lipstick ... Friend or Faux?

Written by @Twist.It.Tea

First and fore most, the “latex” part in this products name should not be taken lightly. Seriously, after being mesmerized by the shine, I realized my lips couldn’t breathe and I didn’t even know that was a thing until I felt them suffocating underneath this gloss.  I did not want to hate this gloss, especially seeing Rihanna don a similar shade a few weeks ago, I was ready to test it out on myself.  I tried Twilight Zone, which is a gorgeous periwinkle.  Although out of my comfort zone, I absolutely loved it. The light purple mixed with the gloss was so sexy, and it was meeting all of my expectations until a few minutes in. 

@badgalriri

The only reason I’m giving Too Faced Melted Latex a little bit of love is because it does give you a beautiful glossy look, and the color is gorgeous.  This stuff is great for photos but I wouldn't recommend depending on amazingness all night. Eventually this gloss went from super glossy to a faded out light purple and made you look kind of crazy if it wasn't all the way filled in.  I am willing to try Girl On Top (clear coat) as a topper since it’s on sale right now, but otherwise I wouldn’t waste my money.  I waited for the gloss to set for quite some time but there were no solutions to make this formula less heavy and sticky.  When I wold smack my lips together in hopes of smoothing the formula because it applies in patches, I was left with my lips sticking together like honey.  It doesn't apply smoothly which was uncomfortable af because it felt like Elmers Glue being painted on.  With that being said, there is no drinking, eating, smoking, kissing, or talking while wearing Melted Latex unless you want to be committed to reapplying it every few minutes.  It transfers sooo easily, and will eventually bleed off of your lips if you aren't careful.  I think this is where the latex part comes in because it was extremely difficult to take off.  The pigment is so strong, and the formula so thick and gooey that the residue left on your lips is so stubborn it’s nearly impossible to remove.  It took me two face wipes and a cotton round soaked in micelle water to ‘somewhat’ remove the melted plastic that was coating my lips and surrounding mouth area.  Not cute at all.  I wish this lived up to the love I have for the Too Faced Melted Matte. 

Too Faced has created the perfect formula for a comfortable, long lasting matte that doesn't dry out your lips.  I love applying this liquid lipstick because of how creamy the application feels on my lips.  I am always looking for a matte that doesn't require a lot of maintenance and I have found my answer.  I tried Too Faced's 1998 which is a fun bubble gum pink, which is also kind of out there for me, since I usually stick to dark shades and mauves but Too Faced really does have a great range of shades for these two lines.  I stand by my opinion that Melted Matte is exceedingly better than the Latex line.  I would buy every single color for the matte line just because I know I can depend on it to last all day or night. I hate when liquid mattes pill on my lips after a while but this shade stayed true to it's color and silky smooth formula for hours (thank you, avocado oil & vitamin E).  I really love how low maintenance this lip is, because I usually don't notice I need a reapply until after I take the picture.  I hate when I go to the bathroom to check my makeup and realize that the color has sunken into the lines of my lips, turning me into a dehydrated looking mess.  Too Faced adds hyaluronic filling spheres to smooth the look of lip lines, which is genius for a matte.  They also added a no-sting lip plumper in there that the Melted Latex line does not have.  I know they are two completely different style of liquid lips but I will stick to the amazing Melted Matte no matter what the situation. 

B. Scopes January 2017

 Capricon (December 22 – January 21)

Full Sagittarius B. Scopes Here

New Year

In 2018, we resolve to know our worth and to be humble. We encourage you to do the same. Look back at the past year’s successes, no matter how small they might seem, to remind yourself how hard you’ve worked. But don’t let those achievements make you cocky. It could slow your progression in the new year. 2018 began with a super moon. It was a beautiful birth to your greatest year yet.
 

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New Moon:

Darkness makes us vulnerable. The light from the moon is most precious to those who are afraid of the dark.

When we are fearful and stressed, we can forget our basic needs to survive. How much water did you drink today? At the beginning of the year, there is so much pressure to make grand gestures and changes. It is overwhelming. Don’t do this to yourself. Not again. Practice self care this year. Self care is not a some millennial hoax that feeds, what our predecessors see as, our narcissistic tendencies. It is life changing behaviors that protect and PRESERVE your health and well being. Each zodiac will be advised take time to care for themselves. Of course, with some beauty referrals. 

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New Makeup:

Spoiler Alert! Makeup does have an expiration date. While you may want to keep that compact for sentimental reasons, there does come a time when you must stop applying that blush from the limited edition palette. Makeup becomes vintage very fast. Start this year by going through your makeup and cleaning out what’s been there for too long. Here is a short list of helpful expiration dates.

Eyeliner: 6 months to 1 year
Mascara: 3 months
Blush, eye shadow, and other powder cosmetics: 1-2 years. 
Foundation: 6 months to 2 years.
Lipstick: 2 years.

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Aquarius

Drybar
Detox Dry Shampoo

Sephora Collection
#LipStories Lipstick

Kenzoki
Ice Cold Eye Cream

Self Care For Aries: Cryotherapy

"Whether it's to freeze and destroy fat cells in your belly, smooth facial wrinkles, or obliterate spider veins, cryotherapy — treatments that use extremely cold temperatures — is revolutionizing the spectrum of antiaging procedures." - Harper's Bazaar

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Pisces

Ciate London
Mermaid Glow

Guerlain
Météorites Baby Glow Sheer Liquid Foundation

Inc.Redible
In a Dream World Iridescent Sheer Gloss

Self Care For Pisces:

Treat yourself to a rainbow manicure to ignite your childlike wonder.

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Aries

Foreo
Luna Mini

Viseart
Cool Mattes Palette

Christian Louboutin
Nail Colour

Self Care For Aries: Sauna Stay-cation!

Sweat out your woes and connect with your element, fire.

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Taurus

Colourpop
London Fog

Butter London
Patent Shine 10x Lacquer 

Colourpop
For Shore

Self Care For Taurus: Dead Sea Mud Bath

Break your predictable nature. Travel to Jordan to submerge your body in a whole new experience.

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Gemini

Benefit Cosmetics
Galifornia Blush

Juliette Has A Gun
Sunny Side Up

Sol De Janeiro
Brazilian Kiss Cupuacu Lip Butter

Self Care For Gemini: Fine Makeup

Makeup is art. Merge your favorite painting into your next makeup routine.

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Cancer

Urban Decay
Chill Cooling and Hydrating Makeup Setting Spray

Beauty Blender
Solid Chill Swirl Brush Cleaner

Matrix
Styline Link Chill Boho Smoothing Air Dry Cream

Self Care For Cancer: Mind Over Yoga Mat

For the most balanced zodiac, work on balancing your mind through mediation.

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Leo

Yuni
Hot Head Microveil Hair Treatment

Glamglow
PoutMud Wet Lip Balm Tint

Olehenriksen
Pore Balance Facial Sauna Scrub

Self Care For Leo: This Facial Is Glit

You're royalty. A 24K facial is as luxurious as you are. 

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Virgo

Elf
Cream Eyeliner

MAC
Grand Illusion Liquid Lipcolour

Huda Beauty
Lash Glue

Self Care For Virgo: New Hair, Who Dis?

Find a look that shows another side of you!

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 Libra

Young Art
Caption Art Screen Lightning Rod Kit

Kevyn Aucoin
The Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting Highlighter

Thrive Causemetics
Brilliant Eye Brightener

Self Care For Libra: Let The Light In

Bring some glow to your complexion by capturing the light from a light treatment. 
 

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Scorpio

Skyn Iceland
Pure Cloud Cream

Lime Crime
Unicorn Hair Semi Permenant Hair Color

Biomega
Glow Sheer Shine Spray

Self Care For Scorpio: WorkSpace Re-do

Or, let’s be real -makeup space re-do. Reorganizing and redecorating can make an old space feel like a brand new home. 
 

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Sagittarius

Nooni
Snowflake Whipping Clenser

Too Faced
Snow Bunny Luminous Bronzer 

Dior
Diorsnow White Perfection Anti-Spot & Transparency Brightening Serum

Self Care For Sagittarius: DIY Facial

We are in love with our contributor, Kayla’s, diy mask. See how she created a $100 mask for $15!!! Read her blog post here.
 

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All photos are credited or sourced
Zodiac inspo from here